Pictured above is Tarzan, shocked that his favorite tree was cut down. When we got the cat-fence installed, this one tree was too close to the fence line, so Tarzan, being King of the Jungle, figured that if he climbed it and went out on a limb, he could drop on the outside of the fence and go back to his wild ways. When he did this, he didn't go anywhere. I was able to go out and pick him right up and bring him back, but I told The Boss the tree had to go!

Now I never am one to want to cut down any tree (The Boss would prefer NO TREES so he could mow faster), but the pets always come first,so it had to be felled. The look on Tarzan's face was priceless. He meowed his head off for a while at the tree, but got over it. He and Catfish still have a small tree in the middle of the yard to climb and scratch on.

Have you guys ever made a dramatic change in your house or yard just for the pets?

35 Comments:

Open topic...Hum, let’s talk Bloomer Droppers! They are indeed yummy and toxic to the brain! After our first tall drink, they became “Drop your Draws” and “Take off your Panties” amongst other names as we kept forgetting Bloomer Droppers! I took them a step further and added a banana along with two shots each of the coconut and mango rums! True yummy sweet delights to our mouths! One afternoon I will long remember, I think anyway…. Thanks for the recipe Adrienne!

We had a nice little Silver Maple tree in the backyard near the house when we moved into it. The Saint wanted to cut the thing from day one. He thinks all trees and bushes should all be clumped together to make a woods effect. I dared him to touch my silver maple or many crepe myrtles in the yard! Back away from the chain saw man! Then a few years later, I was in the sun room and heard this strange sound. The cats were looking up at the ceiling and running from side to side of the room. I went outside to investigate and found a stinking squirrel running around on the roof of the house. Knowing how destructive those critters can be, I knew the end was near for my silver maple tree. I called the Saint at work and when I told him that he was going to get his way (no Dragon, he knew he was not going to get his way with me! ha-ha.) with cutting down the tree, he was so happy. That weekend we took down the maple and I still miss it.

I cannot have fresh flowers in the house due to cats eating them. Nor do I have many house plants either. The ones I do have are way up hanging out of paws reach. I love plants and flowers so this is a true sacrifice for me to not have any in the house. But my girls come first so I must just live without my pretties for my babies’ sake! I have a flower garden in the yard to make up for my loss.

When we shopped for a house to buy on a VERY limited budget, we looked for houses with fenced yards. We finally found a house we could afford but it didn't have air conditioning or a fenced yard. Our real estate agent, Randy Soto of the Homes Sold Team/Keller Williams, siad he would talk to the seller to see if he would install the A/C and fence. For a few thousand more dollars, we got the A/C and fenced yard and our own house! It's impossible to rent with three very well-mannered dogs and three cats, so buying a home was imperative. The house has a few... idiosyncracies but we love it and are fixing it up. The dogs have their yard where they can do their doody, and the cats can watch the birds through the windows.

I NEED HELP!The Saints sister took in a turtle a few years ago from a child that no longer wanted him. She is a busy woman and no longer can attend to the turtles needs so we are checking into finding a turtle refuge for this little guy. The only problem is… all we can find on the internet are refuge for sea turtles or water type turtles. Does anyone know of a refuge for desert turtles? He is a turtle from Afghanistan and could not be let go into the wild of our country. He would need to be conditioned to be with other turtles as well because he has always been a single turtle. Any ideas???

I think it is so wrong for exotic animals to be sold in this country! Too many times they end up being a burden to a family and they just let them go into the wild to basically die! That is just not right!

I agree Skeeter! Exotic pets should not be sold in the US. It's wrong to take them out of their native habitat and, like you say, when someone doesn't want it anymore, then what?!? Good luck with find a home for the turtle. I never understood the reptile pet thing anyway. Not warm and cuddly, no fun to snuggle with. Won't chase balls... what good are they?

We actually only got hooked with Randy because I wanted a woman realtor. When I called the real estate office, Randy answered and he was so nice I couldn't ask for someone else! I like using women for stuff... women doctors, bankers, vets, whatever. I want to promote women in business and the best way is by utilizing their skills and talents. You go, girl!

Well all, I'm sad to say that I will not be getting my wish to move to Clarksville. Hubby found a townhouse he wants to buy here. It will be nice to have a yard for the dogs and tons more room than our little apartment. I can't complain b/c he's thinking of us. He has a great job and mines not too bad either, so for now it's the best thing. But I'm ready to leave this crowded mess. It's closer to work and in another town that is less populated, but it's still Northern Virginia. On the up side it is 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and 1700 Sq. Ft. 3 stories. I don't know what to do with all that space. The dogs will it. On the down side the asking price is $360,000. We must be nuts to be considering a house that costs that much. But for around here it's not a bad price. The same townhouse down the block that has the same floor plan and same Sq. Ft. sold in December for $480,000. It's just crazy! So I will have to continue to chat with everyone on here. I hope to visit Clarksville some time soon. When I do, I'll let you all know so we can get together and have Bloomer Droppers! (Maybe now I can talk him into a new puppy. Hee-Hee)

Skeeter, I put a feeler out to a couple of rescue folks that I am associated with to see if they know any rescues/refuges that might be able to help with your turtle. I'll post if I find out anything that might help you. Is your sister-in-law local?

I add my hooray for the turrle and it getting a new home too!!!!!!!! See how new friends are already working together? This is great!

Sandy asked if we had done anything just for our animals. Our precious Cosette fell and broke her leg from playing at the top of the stairs. She fell through the banistar. The vet said it probably broke because her bones were brittel from having Feline leukemia.I was so worried after tthat. We found a clean plastic barrier that you secure to the banistar. it was in the children's catalog called Leaps and Bounds and it's aactually to prevent babies and toddlers from falling. Fly Boy secured it well and now I feel safe with all the girls being near the banistar since they can't fall through. It isn't really all that visable even once you know it's there. It's a great thing to have. Before we got it we were putting big thick sofa pillows down below the banistar on the floor and taht was a pain to try and wallk around. This is so much better!

Oh funny Sandy... You will have to ask Adrienne for the recipe as I added my own twist to them. She calls them Bloomer Droppers but after one tall drink, you tend to forget the proper name and all kinds of funny names popped out of our heads! Now just what are you thinking about with the banana? LOL... Oh my, if anyone is reading this Blog for the first time, they are totally lost here! (Dragon may still be lost in la la land!) A while back a topic somehow got turned into a newly invented drink by Adrienne, she calls them Bloomer Droppers! I guess because if you drink too many, your bloomers may drop but in my case, I was drinking them with my parents so no bloomers dropped here. But if they had, they would have not seen anything new as they were the ones to changes my poopy diapers way back when! Ha-ha…. I was making a new batch of them and saw a banana in the kitchen and thought that might put a nice twist on the flavor of the drink. Not the Flav-o-Love! Sandy you are too funny with your warped mind… LOL…

On a happy turtle note, Stacey contacted me and we may have a new home for the turtle! I guess I jumped the gun with finding him a new home. I called my mother in law last night to let her know that I may have a new home for the turtle. That is when I found out that Sis in law is not aware we are seeking turtle a new home! How sad, I don’t know the turtle’s name! Anyway, Sis in law took turtle in a long time ago, maybe 5 years or more from a neighboring child who lost interest in the reptile, she also took his neglected bird! Poor bird did not chirp until Sis in law got him. Now he happily sings like a bird should! Anyway, turtle has not been a problem for sis in law up until recently. She now has to travel with work and has a long distant relationship so she has to rely on mom (my mother in law) to animal sit for her. Her dog, Jasper which I have mentioned before, and Fluffy the bird are not a problem but the turtle seems to get traumatized with moving him from house to house for the pet sitting. So mom in law and I have decided that sis in law needs to seek a new home for turtles well being. Okay, I passed the info from Stacey to mother in law and now it is up to her to have a “turtle intervention” with her daughter. She will have to convince her that the turtle will be better off in his new home with an animal loving rescue person! The Saint and I will be the ones to make the trip to VA to pick up turtle and then to TN to pass along turtle if this transfer does indeed take place. I will keep y’all posted with this story as it unfolds. Mother in law will talk to her turtle owning daughter tonight and let me know how it goes… Thanks for the networking outlet with such things Sandy! If this all goes as mother in law and I plan it, it will be a happy outcome for all….

Back on the original topic, of sacrifices we make in the name of happy pets…We just bought a new front door to the house. Did we get the one we wanted? No! We got the one that will best work concerning our girls. Cheetah has an obsession with frogs! I have mentioned this obsession before with her picture being on the Pet Parade. We live in the woods and tiny green tree frogs live on our rocking chair front porch! They take refuge on the ledge of the ceiling and in my table top water fountain during the day, which I don’t turn on for fear of drowning them! We had a long glass front door that attracts bugs to the light from within the house, thus attracting frogs for dinner at night! The frogs get on the door and munch the bugs as they come to the light. This drives Cheetah baby nuts! She sits and screams at the frogs and tries to get to them. She jumps as high as a cat can go to try to knock them off the door only to be fooled by the glass between her. I appease her by bringing in a frog for her to observe and sniff only to be fussed at by the Saint as I am tormenting the poor frog. I recall someone else fussing at me on the Blog about it also. Hummm, who was that again…?... Anyway, Cheetah does not hurt the frog but I can see where it may not be such a good idea for me to do that to the cute little frogs that I consider my friends. So the door was rusting at the bottom and we had to get a new one. With getting a new door, we kept Cheetah in mind. We did not get another one with glass from floor to ceiling, but instead settled for a smaller oval glass door that does not go to the floor. We hope she will not take notice of the frogs being higher up on the door this summer thus allowing us some peace and quiet in the evening! Hard to believe we have to think of the cats when getting a dam front door!

Pam, I am so sad to read about poor Cosette. How sad that must have been for you! I am sorry for your pain....

Adrienne, sorry you will not be relocating to TN but happy about your new home! The Saint is from northern VA and he has had lots of job opportunities which he has passed on due to the high cost of living there! His parents lived in Fairfax when it was considered the boonies! After many years and the growth, they finally had to get out due to the traffic and noise. They relocated East of Fredericksburg in the year 2000 which was the boonies then but the hustle and bustle is creeping there now as well. They say the housing market has slowed down in your area so you are indeed getting a good deal in Northern VA with that price for a home! Your babies will love it too! Congrats…

Oh Skeeter, that was ME chastising you for tormenting the poor frogs. I pointed out that it may not physically have hurt the frogs, but it was definately not good for their mental well being. I'm glad to know the Saint convinced you of the error of your ways......

Skeeter, Thanks for the sympathy, I will never be able to fully get over not protecting my baby Cosette from getting a broken leg but I do ahve to live with it. I'm trying to just have learned my lesson and am now making sure it won't happen again to any mor of my precious girls but my heart will always hurt over it just like it will always hurt over making the wrong decision with Tiger and the insullin and not taking Sammy to the doctor for blood work sooner. See I am so full of guilt! Hey glad you gave the little frogs a reprieve too.Adrienne, I too am sorry you aren't able to move back to your beloved Clarksville at this time but also agree you are getting a good deal on your home. At least you do like it there and hopefully one of the days you're make it abck home to live. We're rooting for you.Watch out tallking about thse inces girls, remember we got started on that subject before,ha. I can't believe that Dragon didn't make any comments on taht one. That was a good one for him to get started with. Speaking of----Dragon I want those details on the good old days you said you'd tell me about. The ones you think Guinevere knows about and will be ok with since it was before her time.

Well Stacey it was not the Saint that convinced me from the tormenting of the frogs, I guess it was you giving me a hard time on here! You see, I don’t listen much to the saint when it comes to animals and my yard work. I think I know better then him, well I am nine months older then him so I am smarter right? I am sure glad he does not get on here and read these things or I might be in trouble... Tee hee... anyway, when I said I had not brought any more frogs in the house, this was spoken before frog season and the new front door. I am hoping that the new door will take Cheetahs mind off the frogs but there are always the toads in the back yard that she spots from the sun room door! Hopefully my frog tormenting days are over but when it comes down to a little frog play (which let me remind you is basically a cat sniff) with my cat or my cat driving me nuts to get her a frog, well, the frog may loose but I promise I will try hard to get her mind somewhere else if she sees a frog this year! We have tons of frogs and toads in the yard!

Oh, last night I saw 4 deer eating corn in the yard and a racoon was munching down on a compressed corn cob on the squirrel feeder! It was great to get to see this action in the yard!

Turtle update....Mom in law called me to say that sis in law will indeed hand over the turtle! But just to be on the safe side of things, Mom in law will not contact the turtle rescuer until she has given her daughter 24 hours to think about it. This way mom in law will be sure that daughter will hand it over... A good idea I think. So it is looking better for turtle to have a new home soon! We will have to get him from VA to TN but I think we may have a plan. We are going to VA for Easter vacation. We can pick up turtle then and bring him back to GA with us. Then we are planning a trip to TN in May to attend our niece’s graduation so we could get turtle up there then. Or if need be, we can always run him straight there from VA but that would be one long drive for us but we will do whatever it takes to get turtle to his new home in TN….. I LOVE HAPPY ENDINGS… Thanks so much for the info Stacey!!!

Well, Pam, I must be careful here. That was back in "the time". Let's see.....that was back during the age of conquest. I was on a mission. If you can really handle it, I'll tell you. But, I don't want to get chastised or lectured here for telling you what you asked for. I don't want you to call me any more bad names. To give you a preview, I was dating three women at the same time, and one other was involved. I had to be very, very, careful--two of them worked together. If you want more juicy details, tell me. BUT, if you think I'm a male chauvanist pig, I'll just stop now.

I appreciate your thoughts and the fact that you all want my comments on things, but the weather has warmed up so nicely. I will be much more involved in outdoor activities now--you know, fishing, golfing, hunti------NO NO NO, not hunting. Just a joke!!! Lighten up. But, in other words, I won't be online nearly as much as I am in the cold weather. I won't abandon you all, I really enjoy our conversation here. It gives me someone to talk to, especially since I haven't spoken to Guinevere in three weeks. I don't like to interrupt her....

I love it. Three to four shots in one drink. But an "inch" is never enough, though an extra one can make a big difference!

Frog topic made me think of 7th grade when we had to disect one alive. It was a horror. We had to put a pin its back first to paralyze it so it wouldn't feel anything, but how did we know if we did that right? Then we cut them open to see the heart beat and stuff. I shudder to think of it! I can remember it clear as day. I wouldn't allow my kid to do that if I had one. I hope schools are getting away from doing that--it's so unnecessary!

Dragon, you were no dog for having three gals at one time because if you were, then so was I. I recall the summer after high school graduation 5 guys chasing me all over Riverside and Madison streets! Too bad I let that one which became my ex-husband catch me later that summer. It was one wild and fun summer for this once, shy girl…

I too need to start spending less time on the computer and more time in the yard! I have flowers to plant and weeds to kill! The birds are nesting everywhere and today I hung up the Wandering Jews on the front porch. The birds will fight me with nesting in the middle of them! The plastic owl does not deter them and the rubber snakes only work if I move them around daily. If I don’t keep them moving, the smart birds know they are harmless and build a nest around the coil of the fake snakes tails! They are such cleaver creatures! Fun to watch them from egg to fledgling!

Sandy if I have time in May, we will have to all get together at some point if possible. I will be on a tight schedule with Graduation as it will be in Murray Ky. And then the turtle hand off if need be in Mt. Juliet. We will not travel with the girls so we can only be away from them for a few days. I will do what I can to get together at some point though…

Dragon, First I am not one to judge and second on this subject I couldn't if I wanted to without being a hypocrite. Do you recall me saying I was a singer and drummer in rock bands back in the day? So I met a lot of people. Well I have been known to date several guys at one time so I'm with you man. Fly Boy used to tease me and say how I not only had been engaged to half the guys in our county but half from the next three counties as well,ha. That is a slight exageration but I did my fair share of going through guys. I hated to hurt anyones feellings so a lot of the time when i wanted someone new I would just let the currant boyfriend catch me with the new one or at least hear about it so he would break up with me. Sometimes taht would backfire and they would want to stay with me wondering what they did wrong,ha. That was the ones I likes the least, hated taht begging,ha. I'm not kidding about that it really was like that. Anyway we will ahve to talk more on this subject since there seems to be more of us that llived a similar lifestyle. I'm getting ready to leave town for the evening so be back later tomorrow. Everyone have a great evening!

Pam was a groupie! My, my, Dragon boy will have a field day if he reads that!

I love the birds nesting. I have flycatchers that come every year and usually build on top of our light figture at the carport door. They also do one on top of the cat house, which makes me worry that the babies will drop from the nest when ready to fly and the cats will get them, but last year they made it! I don't know if they'll build on the light fixture this year, as we got new siding and light and it might not suit them.

Does anyone feed bird in summer? I know they say you shouldn't--only in winter, but I do enjoy watching them from my kitchen sink window. However, this would be one less chore if I stopped. I used to always put 3 hummingbird feers right outside my other kitchen window and would get TONS, I mean TONS of birds, so many that I'd have to fill all three feeders at least once a day if not twice. I'd mix up the stuff in gallon milk jugs. But that too is a big chore, so I might skip that this year.

Yes Sandy, We feed the birds year round! Even though we have the feeders out year round, they only eat what they “need” from the feeders. They seem to prefer the natural stuff in the wild when available. I have documented over 50 different types of birds (We have 6 different kinds of woodpecker)in our yard and really do get joy from my feathered friends! We have three hummingbird feeders up during hummer season, but only a few hummers as they seem to keep others at bay. They are very territorial in our yard. I am still waiting for our first hummer to arrive because then I know it is safe to plant in the yard. I plant a hummingbird and butterfly garden and have two hummer juice feeders in the middle of it. I see the hummers on the plants and flowers as much as the juice feeders! So I think they know the correct balance they need from us and the wild…

Like I mentioned earlier, the deer do not stay at the corn and eat all night long. They only nibble for about 15-20 minutes then move on to the wild stuff. I think the wild animals are smart enough to know what they need from man and what they need from nature… The wildlife in our yard is fascinating for me to observe. I learn a lot from them…

Has anyone ever been to Montgomery Bell State park? Well if not, then you must go in the summer to eat at the lodge. You will be in for a treat! They have hundreds of hummingbirds on the feeders hanging outside of the windows in the back dining room. They are busy buzzing around the feeders as you eat dinner providing great visual entertainment…

Sandy, Oh No No honey, I was NEVER a groupie! I had groupies after me! Remember I was the rock star! Ok, maybe I wasn't a star,ha but I was the rock band member and would never think of being anyones else's groupie,ha! That was so far beneath me since I was the one in a the bands.

Hey, just heard on the news that there was a recall on dog and Cat food from Menu Foods under the Wal-Mart, Safeway,Kroger, andPetsMart brands. 60,000,000 containers were recalled because it caused kidney failure and 10 pets have died. Just in case anyone uses and of that food wanted you all to kn ow.

I didn't know we aren't supposed to feed birds in the summer so still do.

Serious note here. This is copy and pasted from an email I received from the Humane Society. It has links to the complete lists of the recalled pet foods.

"Many of you have probably heard by now… but several varieties of dog & cat food (specifically “cuts & gravy” style foods in can & pouch varieties) manufactured by Menu Foods have been recalled after several animals became ill and/or died. Menu is the leading North American manufacturer of wet pet food products sold by supermarket retailers, mass merchandise, pet specialty retailers & other resale/wholesale outlets… so this covers NUMEROUS brands."

See full press release here: http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Press_Recall_03162007.pdf.

Pet People
Sandy Britt, an animal welfare advocate and volunteer with Clarksville rescue organizations, takes care of three dogs: Zoe, Scooter and Peanut; two cats: Catfish and Tarzan; and one husband, Glen, and according to him she takes care of them in that order.